The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

Loading ...

Loading ...

This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe

With the domestic talent pool shrinking, Japan desperately needs foreign talent to fill the gap and revive its ailing economy. But judging from the overwhelming response to a previous piece of ours on the topic, foreign talent doesn’t seem to be anxious to head for Japan any time soon.

For a simple reason: The lack of the right “regime,” the socioeconomic conditions and cultural mindset that will allow talented individuals develop and advance a career, which makes it an unpopular destination for talent vis-à-vis competing international destinations.

“I live and work in Japan” comments one reader. “The point system to get into Japan is extremely difficult to fulfill: in 2012-13 they had roughly over 1000 people apply. They had hoped for a lot more than this (5000). Japan will not be able to overcome its shortage of workers: aging population, very xenophobic, very nationalistic, it is extremely difficult to become a permanent resident (you are always a NJ), the politicians are old, from the same families and hold onto old, antiquated social and political beliefs that stymie solutions to the worsening problems faced not only for a shortage of workers but a society: a society that is insufferably complacent and is inept at adopting to the changing world around them.”

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

That’s certainly a sharp contrast with competing international talent destinations like US, Canada, and Australia.

“US is open society and it attracts most of talent from all over the world,” comments another reader. “Then who on earth wants to work in Japan? A decade ago, many young Chinese went to Japan to study and stayed there temporarily. Most of them either came to US or went back to China. They all complained that the society is very conservative. It is hard to get to the top level of the company. The glass ceiling drives many good people away.”

The trouble is that after two “lost decades” and a wave of reforms, things got worse than better.

“Having lived and worked here for the past 30 years, I can say that things are going from bad to worse. It is incredible to see the insularity and inward looking attitude of mind of the younger generations of Japanese,” comments a third reader. “But by and large, Japanese feel uneasy around foreigners in the work environment because foreigners bring a different type of ambition. One does get the feeling that Japanese under 40 or 45 have had it too easy and are unwilling to adapt to an already changed world, never mind a rapidly changing world.”

While the two lost decades haven’t changed Japanese attitudes toward foreigners, subdued economic growth has depressed wages.

“As a software engineer who came here for personal reasons, I would advise anyone considering Japan to seriously reconsider,” writes a fourth reader. “Between the brutal hours, incredible inefficiency, low salary (you can get 60% of what you can get in the US, if you are lucky, and costs that rival Silicon Valley), and incredibly outdated technology with outdated development methodologies, Japan is a dead-end for your career. Go to the US, go to Europe, go to Australia, those are the real hotbeds of talent and innovation. Coming here was the biggest mistake of my professional career.”

The bottom line: Foreign talent doesn’t seem anxious to head for Japan anytime soon. Because the country has yet to develop the socioeconomic conditions and cultural mindset that will allow foreign talented individuals to develop and advance their careers.